Metallica - Metallica (Sonisphere 2011)

This is it! Every single soul in front of the Apollo Stage knows they are witnessing history today. This is one of these gigs you will be telling your grandchildren about. "Yes, I was there when the Big 4 played together on one stage, for the first time in metal history."

Except for the bassist, RIP Cliff, Metallica still represents the original band that transformed Bay Area Thrash Metal into an international phenomenon. We can obviously not ignore the band's split from Dave Mustaine, but without that happening back in the day, today would not have been such a big issue....

Twisted Sister - Twisted Sister (Download Festi...

When asked to think of some of the best frontmen in rock and metal, the names of Ozzy Osbourne and Iggy Pop are always thrown into the ring, still in contention many years after their heyday purely because age seems not to have diluted their fiery performance nature. Grab a chisel and a mallet; Twisted Sister's Dee Snider needs to be permanently engraved onto this list of creditworthy vocalists. At the age of 56, Snider may be a few years younger than the aforementioned icons, but to deliver such a spirited, energetic show at an age where most people's knees...

Thin Lizzy - Thin Lizzy (Download Festival ...

2011 is proving to be an important year in the history of Thin Lizzy. Not only did January see the 25th anniversary of the passing of frontman Phil Lynott, but this was to be Thin Lizzy's first appearance at Download Festival. Faces may have come and gone, but long time members Scott Gorham and founding member Brian Downey are still to hand to monitor the preservation of the Thin Lizzy soul.

Whilst some may be sceptical of the current musical body that is Thin Lizzy, to hear hits like 'Waiting For an Alibi' and 'Jailbreak' reeled off live is nothing short...

Saxon - Saxon - Call To Arms

Having formed way back in 1976 in Barnsley, heavy metal band Saxon has had a long and successful career. With 8 top forty and 4 top 10 UK albums in the 1980s, the band has had success in Europe, Japan and USA, selling over 13 million albums worldwide.

The current lineup remarkably includes 4 of the original band members from 1976; Biff Byford (vocals), Paul Quinn (guitar), Nibbs Carter (bass) and Dough Scarratt (guitar). They are joined by Nigel Glockler on drums who began his third and current spell with the band in 2005 having been part of the setup in...

Alice In Chains - Alice In Chains - Jar Of Flies Ep (1994)

Between Dirt and Facelift, one cannot deny the influence that Alice In Chains had on alternative music in the 90's. Quite often I thought they got the short end of the stick when people talked about the Grunge era. Regardless, Alice In Chains is an important band and had Layne Stayley not taken his life, one might think they'd still be breaking barriers.

Anyway, Jar Of Flies solidified AIC's musicianship in my book. Sure, Sap was beautiful in its own right but songs on Jar Of Flies like "No Excuses", "Whale and Wasp", and "Don't Follow" not only showcased Layne's quite...

Metallica - Metallica - Ride The Lightning (1984)

Metallica were certainly ahead of their time. Or, at least, they were right where they were supposed to be for their time. However you look at it, Ride The Lightning was a semi-drastic statement to make on the heels of the much less polished, much more "indie" Kill 'Em All. Looking back from what we now know, it's almost too plain to see they weren't going to rest on underground appeal and respect. No, Metallica really had much more to offer metal as a whole. This was the real start of their reign over the genre, the foundation for all...

Metallica - Metallica - Kill 'em All (1983)

Where did thrash metal begin? It certainly wasn't on Metallica's debut, but I think this is where it started to really build up the momentum it would need to compete with the hair metal fad of the 80's. The history of Kill 'Em All, and early Metallica, cannot be told without mentioning the influence of one Dave Mustaine, and much of the music here should be credited to him. You can only imagine what direction the band might have taken had he stayed in the fold, but as it is, KEA was a launching point for a band that expertly...

Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden - From Fear to Eternity †The Best of 1990-2010

Although British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden have over 30 years of recording and touring under their belts, their 1980s output remains the most enduring. This double-CD set, showcasing the years 1990-2010, is designed to redress the balance. In keeping with its predecessors, the sixth official Iron Maiden best-of is strictly for the uninitiated. Long-time fans with find nothing new here.

Presenting 23 tracks drawn from the eight Maiden studio albums released since 1990, From Fear to Eternity is aimed primarily at the army of fresh recruits who have flocked to the band during their recent resurgence in popularity, which has...

Ac/dc - AC/DC - Live At River Plate

Snipe as long as you like, but AC/DC are firmly planted in the school of 'if it aint broke, don't fucking fix it'. With a combined overall age of 294,

combined sales of over 200m, and faces that only a mum could love, an iconic guitarist who at 56 still dresses in school uniform, a singer who has worn the same hat since 1980, a rhythm guitarist who is the best in the business at his art, a bassist and drummer who both keep it simple but brilliant, play good 'ol fashioned rock n roll, and who deserve to be mentioned...

Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier (2010)

Well, this is certainly fitting. After a long absence, your source for top-notch metal here at ME returns and, lo and behold, Iron Maiden has done the same. Sure, the album's been out for 6 months now, but as you can see, without Solitary in the mix, good things are overlooked! The Final Frontier is legendary outfit Iron Maiden's 15th studio foray and it marks the first of their 4th decade of existence. While that fact settles in, it should be known that perhaps better than any band in history, Iron Maiden has prolonged their relevence and remarkable songwriting ability...